Former Blackout Artist

Don’t Be a Glory Thief

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I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. – Isaiah 42:8

God is very clear in this verse – He will not share His glory with anyone or anything. He alone is the Lord. He alone is worthy of praise. And He doesn’t want His people to forget that.

A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” That’s worth thinking about. So what comes to your mind when you think about God? Do you think of His power? His wisdom? His goodness? His holiness? His sovereignty?

Think about this: there are over 73,000 different species of trees. And not a single leaf falls from one of them without God’s knowledge and permission. That’s how involved He is. There isn’t a single event in your life that surprises Him. Not one moment slips past Him! God is never out of control, nor is He ever unaware.

So let me ask you: do you spend any real time in your day thinking about God?

Isaiah 42:8 reminds us that God doesn’t tolerate competitors, not even quiet ones in our hearts. He will either glorify Himself in and through us, or He will glorify Himself at our expense. That’s not a threat… it’s just the truth, for He IS the LORD.

This is especially important for those of us who have been called to serve in some aspect of ministry. When God uses us to bless someone, we don’t take the credit. The glory belongs to Him alone. Jesus made this point clear in Luke 17:10 when He told His disciples, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

God’s not looking for people who want applause. He’s looking for faithful hearts that point back to Him.

Three Things for Today

  1. What comes into my mind when I think about God?
  2. Do I think about His greatness, His glory, and His control over all things?
  3. Am I living in a way that brings Him glory – or do I quietly try to keep some of that glory for myself?

Let’s humble ourselves and remember that everything good in our lives is because of Him. And He alone deserves all the glory and praise. Amen.